Fernando g



(No Model.)

P. G. LANE'Kv J. W. KELLY.

' PINLBSS CLOTHES LINE.

No. 497,247. Patented May 9, 1893.

. awe whom,

UNTTED STATES PATENT @Trrca.

FERNANDO G. LANE AND JOHN WV. KELLY, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS OFONE-THIRD TO FRED STERZING, OF SAME PLACE.

PINLESS CLOTHES-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,247, dated May 9,1893.

Application filed October 20, 1892. Serial No. 449,480. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FERNANDO G. LANE and JOHN \V. KELLY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and Stateof Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PinlessClothes-Lines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in pinlessclothes lines; and it has for its object to provide a durableclothesline of simple construction, by means of which the use of theusual detachable pins is obviated, spring clamping fingers formedintegral with the line being provided for securing the clothes on theline.

The line is preferably formed of wire sections flexibly or looselyconnected together; and the invention consists in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of myimproved line; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an enlarged section.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a designates the main portion ofthe sections of my line, each of which sections consists preferably of asingle piece of spring wire of a suitable thickness bent upon itself,its ends meeting in the middle of the secti0n,forming a double wiresection, the strands of which are parallel for a greater portion oftheir length. Clamping-fingers are formed at the ends of each section bybending the wire to form the loops a. These loops consist of the sidesa" a," which are curved, as shown, and extend on either side of the mainportion a of the section, and the ends a which bear on the upper side ofthe main portion, the tension of the spring-sides causing said endportion to bear stronglyon the main portion. It will thus be seen thatany article of fabric it may be found desirable to hang on the line maybe securely held in place by simply raising the end a of the loop a ofthe clamping fingers, and placing the edge of the article under it, thetension of the spring-loops securely holding it thereunder, the sides ofthe loops being separated and bent out laterally slightly in order thatthe article may be more readily passed under the ends of as shownclearly in Fig. 2. The sides of the loops a extend below the strands ofthe main portion of each section thereby providing an almost evensurface for the articles on the line to rest on. The ends of the wirewhich forms each section are securely bound to the other strand of thesection, Where they meet, by a sleeve or a piece of sheet-metal b, whichsurrounds both strands, securely holding the ends of the wire againstthe other strand by bracing the section at its' middle.

The sections of the line are connected by any suitable device; thoseshown in the drawings consisting of open links a which loosely connectthem at the loops a as clearly shown. Any suitable device which wouldallow of a free movement of the links at their ends may be employed toconnect them.

From the foregoing the operation and advantages of our improved linewill be readily understood.

It will be seen that we provide an exceedingly simple device, which isvery durable, and very efficient in operation.

When it is desired to store the line it may be folded or wound into asmall bundle; the loose connection of the links permitting this, as willbe readily understood.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is 1. A clothesline consisting of a series of sections loosely connected together, eachof said sections consisting of a piece of double wire having its endscurved downwardly and backwardly to form the spring loops cs, said loopsembracing and bearing down resiliently 9o on the main portion of thesection, as and for the purpose described.

2. A wire section for clothes lines consisting of a single piece of wirehaving its ends bent back upon its main portion and secured Intestimony, whereof we affix our signatures thereto, the strands of thedoubled ends bein presence of two witnesses. ing bent downwardly andbaokwardly and spread apart, forming the spring sides a of FERNANDO G.LANE. the loops a, the closed ends a"0f these loops JOHN V. KELLY.embracing and bearing resiliently on top of Witnesses:

the main portion of the section, substantial! y E. W. HERNDON,

as described. JOHN POWELL.

